Making memories: How to have the best family holiday

Time off work and school is a precious commodity. We know everyone wants to have the best family holiday, the kind that the makes memories that last a lifetime. At I Love, we know a thing or two about the travel industry, so take it from us when we tell you it’s not the destination, it’s how you approach your family holiday that counts. Our top tips on how to make the most of your trip covers all the bases, from disconnecting from technology to pushing your limits, we’ll set you up for the holiday of a lifetime.

Leave Your Phones at Home

This is one for the brave parents. We all know separating our kids from the black mirror of their devices can be tricky at the best of times. Removed, a series of photographs by Erik Pickersgill shows the haunting impact our phones have on our everyday interactions. The artist has pictured groups of people in their daily lives. Simply removing the phones and tablets from the shot leaves behind an inwardly-absorbed and lonesome group of figures.

Family holidays are a time to connect, so why not disconnect from your devices entirely? It’s a challenge more and more families are undertaking as they choose to leave their phones at home. Distancing your family from distractions means you’ve got more time to live in the moment, explore the world around you and, most importantly, spend every precious moment together.

See the Sights

We all love photographs. Our early years with our kids are precious and it’s important we document the milestones and the special times. However, it’s worth remembering that photos aren’t memories. When you’re on holiday make sure you put down the camera and jump in the pool, don’t just take a picture of the water.

Whether your kids love posting for photos or would rather be hiding out of shot, why not give the enforced photoshoot a rest this holiday and instead spend more time in the moment?

A great way to document your family holiday whilst stilling living life to the full is through using cameras such as GoPros. These action cams don’t get in the way of the excitement and will offer you some fun footage to edit when you get home.

Push Your Comfort Zone

This means different things to different people. One family’s idea of fun is another’s worst nightmare; it’s finding a balance that’s key. Family holidays offer a whole playground of new opportunities from water sports to wild winter retreats. Before you embark on your trip away, plan some activities for you and the family to try. It can be a fun surprise for the kids or something you all decide on together.

A brilliant way to make memories as a family, pushing your comfort zone is rewarding at any age. Working together as a unit using a new set of skills is a great approach to bonding and discovering hidden abilities. Why not explore an underwater kingdom and take the kids snorkelling? Or hit the snowy slopes for the first time on a lastminute skiing holiday? The sky’s the limit, so pack your bags and get the adrenaline pumping.

Do Nothing Together

It’s a busy world out there, most of our time gets eaten up by work and school. Sometimes we all just need to chill. When better than when we’re on holiday with the ones we love? Take time to relax together, whether you’re sitting by the pool, lounging on the beach, or watching the world go by from a bench in a city square. It doesn’t really matter where you are in the world if you’re all in that place together.

Spending time as a family doesn’t have to be expensive. Staycations and low budget airlines are on hand to make family holidays accessible for all. It’s up to you how you choose to spend your holiday but we recommend taking some time out and helping yourself to a big dollop of laziness.

Make Family Travel Diaries

When you’re settled back at home and the last grain of sand has been shaken out your kid’s shoes, family travel diaries will bring you back to that special place you had on the beach. Whether you choose to document your trip the old-fashioned way in a travel journal, or use state-of-the-art software, is entirely up to you. Little ones will love getting involved and it’s such a great project to get to work on when you’re home.

Share memories and glue in photographs and keepsakes like shells and plane tickets. Every holiday must end, but family travel diaries stick around forever. A few years down the line, you and the kids will look back and relive all the best bits again. Websites like Travel Diaries offer great inspiration allowing you the freedom to document your holiday chapter by chapter.

So that’s our round-up of recommendations. We’ve shared some of our top tips on how to have the best family holiday. Now it’s up to you to make the memories. Why don’t you let us know what you and your family get up to on those precious vacation days?

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